Automatic air valve for hot-water radiation



E. Z. MACK AUTOMATIC AI'R VALVE FQR HOT WATER RADIATiON Filed April 11, 1921 m-iillllll 3 \ll mll W 7 H 4 2 a /v Patented May 19, 1925.

mm z.- neon, or neresrmam'own, Iowa.

AUTOMATIC AIR VALVE FOB BOT-WATER RADIATION.

- Application filed April 11, 1921. Serial no. 460,598.

To all whom it may concern.

-Be it known that I, EDWIN Z. MAoK, a

' citizen of the United States of America, and

resident o'f Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa, have invented new and useful Antomatic- Air Valves for -Hot-Water Radiatron, of which the following is a specifica- .tlon.

under pressure in hot-water The object of this invention is to provide means for venting air and trapping water mating and supplying systems. i

A further of thisrinvention is to provide im roved'means. for retarding the;

operation 0 a float pending accumulation of surplus power therein susceptible of quick, positive and complete action to the end that opening and closing of a valve lnay be made instantaneous rather thanprogressive, thus avoiding sputtering and the spattering of water during such operation.

. A further object of this invention is to pro ide means for combining a circulation function with a relief valve function in pressure operated hot-water heating and supplying systems whereby the pressure of water in a valve chamber is equalized to. that-in a radiatoror. supply chamber.- A further object. of this invention is to provide improved means for assembling. varions elements of a float-operated valve relative to a chamber containing and carrying thesaine- A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for automatically cutting oil 'or closing. the .vent ofafloatioperated valve extraneous to the normal 'venting' valve when certain elements associated therewith are removed for.clean1ng, repair or substitution.

A further object of this invention is .to provide improved means for closi ng. by

- manual operation, the normal vent of-a-float operated valve mechanism.

A" further object ,of this invention is to provide improved means for selectively arranging, in different locations, an air relief valve relative to a radiator or upply chain'- heating and -.supplying' systems.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and'comhination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by theaocompanying drawing, in which igu e 1- i-s-a :side elevation and-'Figure2 an end elevation otmy: improved device. F1g11re 3 1s a longitudinal elevation, partly in section centrally of the device, illustrating the construction and arrangement of' parts in normal operative positions.

In the construction of the device as shown the numeral-10 designates a casing substantially of cylindrical form but reduced or tapered slightly at its ends-:in a somewhat irregular manner. The casing 10 is formed with bosses 11, 12 diametrically opposite each other andin the sides of the chainben-a similar boss 13 in the bottom of the chamber and a similar boss 14 atthe apex of one ta-- per-ed end portion of the casing. 11, 12211141 1 4 preferably lie in the same hori- The bosses zontal planeand above the median line of the casing, it 'being'understood that the casing 10 is adapted't'o be set level and-recumbent at all times as indicated in the drawing. The casing 10 preferably is secured toa' radl'atoror supply chamber of a hot-water heating and. supplying system by means of a nipple 1'5 screwed in said radiator or chamber and also-tapped into one or an other of the-bosses 11, 12 or 14; the holes provided in the remaining bosses of the series'Qinehtioired being closed by plugs 16. Thus the casing maybe selectively located 'byemploying the nipple, 15 in connection well known in the. radiator or chamber at a point below, the inlet communication be tween.the. latter element -and,,the casing.

Thus provision is made for maintaininga circulation between the 'casing' 10 and radiator or'supply chamber through the nipple 15 and communicating pipe 17 Qwher'eby heat and pressure are substantially equalized between the two-ma-in-elernents. The end portion of the casing 10 opposite to the boss 14 is formed with a circular opening and is interiorly threaded and adapted to receive a closing cap 18 havingan angular socket 19 opening outwardly-therefrom. A stud 20' is formed on and projects outwardly from the central portion of the cap 18 and is prov with a screw seat. A- rabbet is formed in the cap '18 surrounding the socket 19 and the bottom ofthe'rabbet preferably falls in the same plane with-the outer end of the stud 20. A name plate 21 is fitted to I the rabbet and forms a closure for and flush with theextremity of the socket 19. and said plate is removably and replaceably mount- .ed by means of a screw 22 seated in the stud 20. The name plate 21 is rempved and a combination socket and spud wrench is employed in the socket 19 to remove or replace the closing cap 18 relative to the casing The casing 10 also is formed with aninternal boss 23 in the outer end portion of its top and a small circular hole is formed in said boss and in the upper wall of the casing. -A valve chamber 24 is mounted loosely in the hole last mentioned and is formed with an annular flangeon its inner end portion adapted to approachthe inner face of theapertured boss 23 and be sealed thereto by a gasket 25 of suitable form.

The valve chamber 24 is threaded. externally on its outer end and is adapted to receive on its threaded portion a lock nut 26, which lock nut, when turned down, engages a flattened outer end portion of a boss 27. formed on the exterior of the upper wall of the casing in registration with the boss 23. It is the function of the nut 26 to clamp the 1 valve chamber 24 rigidly to a seat in the y and determine the tension of the spring 32- of forked casing 10. .An arm 28 is formed .on and extends radially of, the casing substantially to the median line thereof and a floatlever 29 a pin 30 extending through said arm.- A float 31, preferably made of imperforate metal, generally cylindrical in form with rounded ends, is mounted on the inner end portion of the forked lever 29 and extends longitudinally of and within the casing. leaf spring 32 is fixed at one end to the valve chamber 24 at a point. diametrically opposite to the arm 28 and depends through theforked lever29 radially and across the center of the casing 10;. Thesp'ring 32 is formed with a Wedge-shaped. lug 33 on one side and said lug is adapted to engage. a tri ger 34 adjustably mounted on said lever an in-turn, formed with a wedge-she. end portion adjacent to the spr ng. 4 he'- tr1gger34 maybe manually adjusted longitudinally of the forked lever 29't0 regulate in respect of cooperation or coaction. of the lug 33 and wedge-shaped endgof said trigger. It .is the function of the spring 32, in

association with the lug 33 and trigger'34,

' to sustain the float 31-.extraneous' to the by buoyancy until said buoyancy of said float in water in the casing against 'movement'in one direction and also to limit return movement of-said float buoyancy attains to an abnormal degree. In either event the spring is a retarding or fhold-back element" in the-combination tending to'the accumulation of power the float to a predetermined form is fulcrumed at one end on spaced from. the. wal

the valve chamber 24 degree, whereby, upon the release of the retardmg influence, the resultant action of the float is quick, sudden and snappy. A valve seat 35 is screwed into the outer end portion.

of the valve chamber 24 and is provided with a central bore 36 having a conical seat in its lower end and a cylindrical cavity-37 at its upper end. The valve seat .35 also is formed with a nut-flange 38 on its upper. end portion whereby it can be manipulated through the use ofa wrench to place or remove the" same relative to the chamber 24. A valve stem 39 is screw-seated in a hub 40 and secured' adju stably therein by a jam-nut 41. The hub 40 extends within the forked lever 29 and is pivoted thereto by apin 42. The valve stem 39 also is formed with a sub-' radiating therefrom and adapted to slide on the wall of the boreof the valve chamher and guide the valve stem in reciprocation therein. A valve plug 46 is pivoted "on the outer end portion of the stem 39 and is provided with a tapered end portionadapted to engage and close at. times the seat in the inner end portion of the bore 36 of the valve seat 35. The valve plug'46 has a free' dom of oscillation on the stem 39 and is l of the-bore .ofv the chamber 24. Thus is provision made for self centerin and seating of the plug 46 in thelower en of the bore 36 of the valve seat 35 and also for the passage of air through the valve chamber I around said plug.*,

Grooves 47 48 are-cut I across the threads thereof and through the plane of the upper end. of said chamber. A

in the outer wall of cap, 49 is screwed 0n the extremity of the valve chamber 24 and is provided with a'bibb washer 50 mounted in a countersink centrally-of its inner face, which bibb washer is. adaptedat times to close-on the upper end of the valve seat 35 and entirely out ofi the fiow of air and water through -said' seat; a holding screw '51 for said bibb washer being re ceived loosely in the "cavity 37 of the bore 36. 'The cap 49 is adapted for manual actuation in either direction and for such'purpose preferably-is formed with a, milled head. -,c

In practical 'use thedevice is so mounted that the horizontal plane defining {theup rmost point of the bore of the nipple 15 1s slightly sectin the axis of the pin 30. Thus sufii-' above a horizontalplane inter i cientuoyancy of water is applied to lift the float 31 into the position shown. Thereafter when 'theilevel of water in the radiator or supply'chamber, and consequently in the casing '10, falls there is a Wndency on the part of the float 31 to descend and open the valve, which tendency is retarded or held back by engagement of the Wedge-shaped end of the trigger 34 with the upper inclined face of the lug 33 backed by the pressure of the spring 32. 'This retarding influence is continued until the level of water recedes to a point where. theweight of the float and elements carried thereby, relieved of the 7-, buoyancy of the water, is suflicient to overcome the pressure of the spring 32 and cause it to recede and withdrawthe lug 33 from the trigger, at which time the float drops suddenly and quickly and carries the trigger beyond the lug. 'Such descent of the float, acting through the lever 29, unseats the valve'plug, 46 suddenly and permits venting of the confined air under pressure through the valve seat, the chamber of the cap 49 and the grooves 47, 48. The venting of the air is continued and, consequently, the level of water in the casing= rises, until" the buoyancy of the water raises the float 31- withsuflicient force to overcome the retarding influenceof the lug 33 (engaging by its lower face with the upper inclined face of the trigger 34) and causes the spring 32-to recede and permit the trigger to pass the lug suddenly and quick ly, thus replacing the valve plug 46 in closing position.

If it be desirable to remove the cap 449 and valve seat 35 for cleaning, repair or substitution, then, in that event, the float 31 is raised by the water'sufiiciently to seat the sub-valve 43 and cut off the flow through the valve chamber 24.

Should it occur that the v21lve p1 1g46 cannot seat oradjust itself to the valve seat 35, due to floating or separable particles in the water, then the cap 49 may be screwed down manually until the bible washer 50 en gages a seat on the upper end of. the valve seat 35, thereby cutting oil?- all flow through the port 36 thereof. Following suchemergency operation, the valve seat 35 may be removed and, if the cause of trouble can be corrected by cleaning the valve seat 35- and plug 46, then the valve seat can be reset and the automatic feature ofthe valve be restored. 1 I claim as my invention- 1. An automatic air vaqye for hot water radiation, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a radiator or supply chamber and communicate therewith horizontally,

air-venting valve mechanism carried by said casing, and a float pivoted on a horizontal axis,within said casing and acting on said mechanism, together with retarding means acting on said float, said me'ans incl-uding a trigger carried by the float device and a spring formed with a lug adapted to engage 4 said trigger.

I 2,- An automatic air valve for hot water radiation, comprising a casing adapted to .and further means of communication verticallyltherewith," one end of said casing being formed with a relatively large opening and provided with a closing cap, said casing also being formed with. a vertically apertured boss in its top, a valve chamber mounted through the latter boss, a nut on said valve chamber engaging said casing, a

valve seat threaded in said chamber, a cap superposed on said chamber and overlying said seat, there being ports between said chamber and cap, a float-operated lever pivoted on said chamber and arranged wholLy within said casing, and a valve carried by said lever and adapted to close said valve seat. 1

4C.' Inadevice ofthe class described, a casing having means of communication horizontallywith a radiator or supply cham- 1 ber, and further means of communication vertically therewith, one end of said casing being formed with a relatively large opening and provided with a closing cap, said casing also being formed witha vertically apertured boss in its top, a valve chamber mounted through the latter boss, said valve chamber being formed with a flange on its inner end adapted to engage the inside, of the wall of the cas'ing,a nut on said valve chamber engaging said casing,a,valve seat threaded in said chamber,- acap superposed on said chamber and overlying sald. sea-t,

there being portsbetween said chamber and cap, a float-operated ,l'everpivotedon said chamber and arranged wholly within said casing, and a valve carried b, said lever and adapted to close said'valve-seat.

5. In a device of the class described, a casing having means of communication horizontally With 'aradia-tor or supply chamber and further means of communication ver-' .tically therewith, one end of said casing being formed with a relativelyla'rge openovidedwith a closing cap, said ing and I casing also being formed with a vertically apertured bossin its top, 'a valve chamber mounted through the latter boss ,a nut on i said valve chamber engaging said casing, a valve seat threaded in said chamber, a cap superposed on said chamber and overlying said seat, there being ports between said chamber and cap, a float-operated lever pivoted on said chamber and arranged wholly within said casing, and a self-centering valve carried by said lever and adapted to close said valve seat. I

6. In a device of the class described, a

' casing, *a valve chamber on and-extending 7. In a device of the class described, a

' .valvechamber formed with a port of two a self-centering plu diameters, there being a seat at the juncture thereof, a seat member carried by said valve chamber and having a seat atone end,

'a float lever'fulcrumed on said chamber, a

valve stem pivoted on said float levers, a valve on said stem adapted to engage the second seat and a sub-valve on said stem adapted to engage said first seat at times.

8. In a device of the class valve chamber having a port formed wit a seat, said port being of diflerent diameters on opposite sides of said seat, a seat member screwed in said valve chamber and having a downwardly opening seat, a float lever pivoted on said valve chamber, a valve stem pivoted on said float lever, on said stem adapted toengage the secon seat, and a sub-valve on said stemi adapted to engage the first seat. at times. i

9.. In a device of the class described, a

.valve chamber having a port formed with -a' seat, said port being of diflerent diameters on opposite sides of said seat, a seat member screwed in said valve chamber and having a downwardly opening seat, a float lever pivoted on said valve chamber, a valve stem pivoted on said float lever, said stem being adjustable relative to said lever,

la self-centering plug. on said stem adapted to engage the second seat, and, a sub-valve on said stem adapted to engage the first 6 seat at times. 1

described, a v e h a float lever mounted for 0501113131011 on a Marshall and State of Iowa, this 30th 10. In a device of the class described, a valve chamber having a port of two diameters forming a seat, a seat, member screwed in said va'lve'chamber and having a downwardly opening seat, a float lever i pivoted on said valve chamber, a valve stem pivoted on said float lever, plug on said stem adapted to engage the second seat, and a sub-valve on said stem adapted to engage the first seat at times, together with guide pins on said stem adapted for sliding engagement with the bore of the valve chamber. I i

11. In a device of'the class described, a valve chamber formed with external threads and also formed with grooves intersectingsaid threads, a seat member mounted in said chamber, a valve adapted to enga e said seat member, the seat member being ormed with .a bore having an enlarged cavity at one end, a cap adapted to be screwed on saidintersected threads of the valve chamber, and a bibb washer mounted vwithin said cap and adapted to engage the adjacent end of the seat member and close the cavity of the bore thereof. V

12. In a device of the class described,

horizontal axis, afloat fixed to said lever, a leaf spring, fixed at one end, extending across said float lever and formed with a wedge-shaped ug and a member adjustably mounted on said float lever and adapted engage selectively on opposite sides of said ilu'gs' whereby said float is held back or retarded on opposite sides of the neutral point 0 its movement.

13. In a device of the class described, a float lever mounted for oscillation on a horia self-centering zontal axis, a trigger mounted thereon, and

thereon, and a spring formed with a lag adapted to engage said trigger.

Signed at Marshalltown', in the countyof of March, 1921-. I

' EDWIN MACK,

ansversely of said' lever lug adapted to engage 

